Eighth grader Brenna Ren was recently named one of the winners in the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus’ Give ‘Em Hope Awards. This annual contest honors the work of activist Harvey Milk, who identified offering hope as one of his major life themes. Ren’s self-portrait depicted how she found hope in caring for plants during the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Personally, I found that taking care of various plants around the house gave me a purpose, especially when school work became tedious,” Ren said in a statement accompanying her piece. “After spending time around these plants, I noticed their continued determination to grow, which inspired my piece.”